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The document summarizes the opposing sides in the American Revolution during the early years of the war. The British had significant military advantages over the colonists in terms of resources, training, and size of their army and navy. However, the colonists were fighting for their independence on their home soil and had local advantages like knowledge of the terrain. The war was also complicated by the presence of Loyalists who remained allied with Britain as well as those who did not take sides. Key figures like George Washington and victories in New Jersey helped boost Patriot morale during a low point in 1776-1777 when their army was depleted.
The document summarizes the opposing sides in the American Revolution during the early years of the war. The British had significant military advantages over the colonists in terms of resources, training, and size of their army and navy. However, the colonists were fighting for their independence on their home soil and had local advantages like knowledge of the terrain. The war was also complicated by the presence of Loyalists who remained allied with Britain as well as those who did not take sides. Key figures like George Washington and victories in New Jersey helped boost Patriot morale during a low point in 1776-1777 when their army was depleted.
The document summarizes the opposing sides in the American Revolution during the early years of the war. The British had significant military advantages over the colonists in terms of resources, training, and size of their army and navy. However, the colonists were fighting for their independence on their home soil and had local advantages like knowledge of the terrain. The war was also complicated by the presence of Loyalists who remained allied with Britain as well as those who did not take sides. Key figures like George Washington and victories in New Jersey helped boost Patriot morale during a low point in 1776-1777 when their army was depleted.
independencebelieved the British would give up after losing one or two major battles.
Few Patriots believed the wise and
wonderful and amazing and one of our favorites ever, John Adams, when he predicted in April 1776, We shall have a long, obstinate, and bloody war to go through.
The British
At first glance (actually, at more than first
glance) the British had an overwhelming advantage in the war.
They had the strongest navy in the world, welltrained army, and the wealth of a worldwide empire.
Britain also had a much larger population than
the United States9 million people in Britain compared to only 2.5 million people in the US.
The Colonists
They suffered serious disadvantages.
They lacked a regular army and a strong navy.
American soldiers also lacked military experience,
and weapons and ammunition were in short supply.
Many Patriots belonged to militia groups but they
were volunteer soldiers who fought for short periods of time before returning home to tend their farms.
The Patriots faced another obstacle. Not all
Americans supported the struggle for independence.
Some people were neutral, taking neither side in
the conflict. The Quakers, for example. Would not participate in the war because they opposed all armed conflict.
Still other Americans remained loyal to Britain.
Loyalists.
The Loyalists
These people were also called Tories.
One American in five was a Loyalist.
Some changed sides during the war.
The Patriots
Colonists that were against British rule.
Had these advantages:
Britain relied on mercenarieshired soldiersto fight. The
Americans called the mercenaries Hessians, after the region in Germany where they were from. Americans were fighting for their own freedom but Hessians were fighting for money. Who wanted to win more? This determination gave the Americans an edge over the Hessians in battle. Another great advantage? George Washington. Few individuals could match his courage, determination, and stunning good looks. The war might have taken a different turn without Washington.
Fighting in New York
Most of the early battles involved few
troops.
At Bunker Hill, for example, about 2000
British soldiers fought 1200 Americans.
The British had not yet won a decisive
victory over the Patriots, however, and they realized they would need more troops to end the war quickly.
A Low Point
In the winter of 1776 to 1777, the
Patriots cause was near collapse. The size of the Continental Army had dwindled. Some soldiers completed their terms of service and went home. Others were deserters, soldiers that ran away.
Thomas Paine
In early 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a
pamphlet called Common Sense. It moved many American colonists toward independence.
Washington had Paines encouraging
words read to his troops to inspire them to continue the fight.
African Americans
As many as 5000 slaves joined the
Patriots. They fought for the same reasons as many others and in addition some fought to earn their freedom.
American Victories in New Jersey
The British army settled in New York for
the winter of 1776-1777, leaving some troops in New Jersey at Trenton and Princeton.
Armies usually called a halt to their wars
during the winter, and the British did not expect to fight.